Sewing-machine



A. W. SANGSTER.

Sewing Machine.

Patented June 8, 1858;

fizz/an, 2'02:

loop, (formed from spool A).

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

A. W. SANGSTER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO V. M. RICE, JOELTHAYER, JAS. SANGSTER, AND ELIZA REMINGTON, ALI) OF SAME PLACE.

SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,531, dated June 8, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Amos WV. SANGsTER, of the city of Buffalo, county ofErie, and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sewing- Machines; and I declare the followingdescription of my method of constructing and operating the saidimprovements to be sulficiently clear and exact to enable others skilledin mechanics and the use of sewingmachines to make and use my inventionof improvements, and for that purpose reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1, in said drawing is a perspective view of the machine, showingthe construction and operation of the feeding machinery also themachinery for drawing up the slack thread and tightening the stitch,after the shuttle has passed through the loop formed from the threaddrawn from the spool A. Fig. 2, represents a section of the feeding barwith its foot piece, the spring thread carrier, and the shuttle with thehook fastened to it preparatory to drawing the upper thread M throughthe cloth to form the loop. Fig. 3, represents the hook (7) and theshuttle R in their positions after the shuttle carrier has forced themthrough the This loop may be more clearly seen by reference to Fig. 4.Fig. 4:, is intended to show the position of the hook and shuttle, andthe position of the machinery operating them, after the upper thread hasbeen drawn below the bed plate, and when their respective positions areabout to be changed by the operation of the machinery in forcing thehook and shuttle through the loop. Fig. 5, represents the bobbin onwhich the shuttle thread is wound. Fig. 6, represents the rod or axle onwhich the bobbin revolves, when all parts of the shuttle are secured totheir proper places and when the shuttle thread is being drawntherefrom, it also shows the section A of the shuttle in which said rodis permanently fastened. Fig. 7 represents the hook detached from theshuttle. Fig. 8, is a front view of the hook and shuttle, fastenedtogether, by a set screw, the latter clasped by the case S between whichand the shuttle the loop of the upper thread (drawn from the spool A)passes. T, T, and T (same figure) represent the fingers or forkedprojection of the shuttle-carrier or arm U which, with the case S, holdsthe shuttle in position for sewing. Fig. 9, is a side view of the hookand shuttle fastened together. Fig. 10 represents the shuttle case,detached from the shuttle-carrier or arm U. Fig. 11 represents a backview of the shuttle and the holes through which the shuttle threadpasses. Fig. 12, represents two'projections from the movable plate D(Fig. l) the cam and the set screw by which this plate, and the feed-barare immediately operated, and the length of the stitch governed. Fig. 13is intended to represent the movable plate P, on the axis P of which,the shuttle carrier or arm U turns.

In Fig. 1 C represents the crank and wheel the latter of which isattachedto the shaft. BY is an eccentric, the ring of which holds thearm Z which operates a,

lever below the bed plate B E represents an eccentric with theprojections Z and Z from its ring, which projections terminate in eyesthrough which the arms of the lever Y pass, and in which they areoperated. This lever swings upon a hinge at the point X, and to theopposite end of it the spool A is attached. Z represents a set screwwhich with a similar one is used to fasten the eyes of the projections Zand Z to any position on the arms of the lever Y, to which the operatormay move them for the purpose of shortening 'or lengthening the motionof the lever. A represents a part or arm of the framework to which isattached the feeding-apparatus. U is a cam on the end of the shaft B. EandE are projections, from the sliding plate D, operating in a slot inthe plate D againsteach of which the cam U presses in its revolutions,thus raising and depressing the plate D. The feed-bar G is raised by andwith the sliding plate D till the foot piece I is just above the clothwhen the continued upward motion of the plate D, by the operation of'thecam U against the set screw U carries it back above the cloth the lengthof a'stitch when the plate D descends, by the operation of the cam Uagainst the projection E it presses the feed bar downward till thefootpiece I rests firmly upon the. cloth by the pressure of the springJ, when the continued downward motion of the plate D carries it and thecloth on which it presses forward the length of a stitch. The spacemeasured by the backward'and forward motion of the feeding bar and itsfootpiece may be increased or diminished by lowering or raising theset-screw. H represents a lever to which is attached the spring J, whoseobject is to press upon the top of the feed bar G and thus to hold thefoot piece I firmly to the material being sewed, while the feed is beinggiven. L represents a stationary arm or projection fastened to theframework A R represents the spring thread-carrier or guide. Nrepresents a spring whose object is to hold the cloth by a yieldingpressure in the positions gained by the operation of the feeder orfoot-piece and to resist the puncturing operation of the hook. lVIrepresents the thread which is drawn from the spool A, B the bed plateof the stand.

In Fig. 2, M, G, N, K, L, and I, represent the same parts of the machineas in Fig. 1. B represents a projection, from the end of the spring K,with a slit in it to hold the end of the thread when the operatorcommences sewing. R is the shuttle with the hook fastened to it. Theshuttle and hook are shown in their positions when the thread is aboutto be caught by the hook and drawn through the cloth. S is a side viewof the case or shuttle-holder. It is attached to the shuttle carrier orarm U by means of the screw G T and T represent a side view of thefingers or projections of the shuttle carrier or arm U, which, with thecase, constitute the shuttle holder. W is an oblong slot, or aperture,in which the pin WV is operated. A represents a section of the shuttlein which is fastened the axle on which the bobbin revolves (see Fig. 6).

In Fig. 3, It, T, T, W, W, M, S, and U represent the same parts of themachine as in Fig. 2. Z the same part as in Fig. 1. 13 represents aplate which is to be fastened by screws to the under sideof the bedplate B (Fig. 1). V and V represent two vertical guides attached firmlyto the plate B V and V are the cases or tubes which are operatedvertically upon those guides, by means of the motions of the shuttlecarrier and the springs E and E. V represents a projection from the caseV. The spring E presses upon the projection V and is represented at itspoint of rest. E is a similar spring which presses downward upon thetube or case V P is a brace or cross piece between the rods V and V atthe ends of which attached are the tubes or cases V and V. Thiscrosspiece is made in two parts on the end of one of which is the pin Pwhich will be seen by reference to Fig. 13. This pin passes through theshuttle carrier or arm U into the opposite part of the crosspiece. Thepin is used for a fulcrum or axle on which the shuttle carrier or arm Uvibrates, while the shoulders of the crosspiece on either side of thisaxle-pin, prevent any lateral motion to said arm. A is a verticalguide-plate attached by screws to the plate B A. is a clasp (or guideplate) fastened at right angles to the shuttle car rier or arm U andwhen operated it takes hold of and is regulated in its motion by theplate A B is a vertical plate to which the lever Z is attached by ascrew which is the fulcrum of said lever.

In Fig. 4 E E A A, V, P, U, V V V, V, B B Z Z R, S, T, and T, refer tothe same parts of the machinery as are referred to by the same lettersin Fig. 3. G represents the same thing as in Fig. 2. 1? represents afemale screw, whose object is to limit the downward motion of the tube Vthus limiting the downward motion of the cross-piece P and of the centerof the shuttle-carrier U. The principal difference between the parts ofthe machine represented in Fig. .3 and the same parts represented inFig. 4 is a change in the relative position of those partsl In Fig. t Rrepresents the shuttle and hook fastened together, and It the loop ofthe upper thread. They are in their respective positions, preparatoryfor the passage of the shuttle and hook through the loop R.

In Fig. 6 A represents a section of the shuttle into which the axle orshaft, on which the bobbin revolves, is firmly fastened. The samesection of the shuttle is represented by the same letter in Figs. 2, 4t,8, 9, and 10.

A. (Fig. 7) shows the end of the hook which is astened by the set screw0 (Fig. 8) into the end of the shuttle.

In Figs. 8 and 11 M represents the shuttle thread as drawn from thebobbin preparatory to sewing.

In Fig. 12 V E and E show the same parts detached which they do in Fig.1.

In Fig. 13 V, V and P represent the same parts as in Fig. 3.

When the shaft or axle on which the bobbin revolves is secured into thesection of the shuttle A the bobbin is slipped on to it. This shaft withthe bobbin is then fastened into the shuttle by means of the screw onits end, as seen in Fig. 6 which is wound into a female screw, formedwithin and near the upper end of the shuttle. Care is required inconstructing each part of the shuttle. The bobbin must revolve freelyand the holes through which the shuttle thread is drawn should besmoothly wrought that the thread may not be cut or marred. The eX-terior of the shuttle should be thoroughly polished as well as thoseparts of the shuttle holder with which the thread may come in contactthat its loops shall not meet with any impediment. After the shuttle issupplied with thread and the hook is fastened to it, as described, theyare placed in the case at the end of the shuttle carrier or arm'U.

in (Fig. 4).

When operated the machine works substantially as follows. A short pieceof the shuttle thread being allowed to hang loose from the externalsurface of the shuttle the upper or spool-thread M is then drawn throughthe aperture in the underside of the foot piece I and fastened (by meansof a knot which is to be formed at the end of thls thread whencommencing to sew) in the slit of the projection B By revolving thecrank and wheel C, the arm Z is pressed downward by the operation of theeccentric Y to which it is attached. This arm being fastened to thelever Z operates it upon its fulcrum on the plate 13. In this operationthis lever, attached to the shuttle carrier or arm U by the pin W in theslot W", (Fig. 2) turns it on the axle or fulcrum P (as seen in Fig. 13)till the clasp or guide plate A (Fig. 3) has moved upon the guide plateA to the position as seen in Fig. I. The shuttle carrier, or arm U thenremains stationary upon the axle P (Fig. 13) and both are carried bymot-ion of. the lever directly upward till the hook punctures the clot-hand reaches its highest point as seen in Fig. 2. In the meantime therevolution of the shaft B (Fig. 1) has operated the eccentric E whichhas raised the lever Y upward carrying with it the spool and drawing upward and tight the slack thread. The same motion of the shaft has turnedthe cam U which has raised by its pressure against the set screw V. thesliding plate 13 which has raised and drawn back the feed bar G thefootpiece I and the spring K the length of a stitch. This spring havingbeen pressed in this backward motion against the point of the stationaryarm L, has carried the thread drawn from the spool partly around andinto the recess of the hook. By continuing the motion of the shaft, theend of lever Z to which is fastened the shuttle carrier is moveddownward and in conjunction wit-h the springs E and E carries with itthe cross piece P and the shuttle carrier U and with this the shuttleand hook, down to the position in which they are represented The lever Zcontinuing this motion turns the shuttle carrier U on the axle of thecross-piece P and by this motion the shuttle and hook are carriedthrough the loop as represented in Fig. 3. In the meantime the eccentricE has raised the lever Y with the spool A which has carried with itupward the slack thread and the loop (through which the shuttle and hookhave just passed) with the shuttle thread in it as represented in Fig.3. The motion of the cam U has pressed the movable plate D downwardwhich has moved the feed-bar G and its footpiece I with the materialbeing sewed forward the length of a stitch. In like manner each stitchis made.

It is not my purpose to confine myself to any particular size or lengthin constructing the hook because it may be varied in these respectsadvantageously, according to the thickness of the material to be sewed.It should, however, be made sufliciently long that when operated it willreach through the cloth and catch the thread drawn from the spool. Itshould be constructed of the best quality of steel and smoothlypolished.

I propose to make my shuttle of the materials commonly used for suchpurpose. It is not my purpose to confine myself to any particular sizeor length in constructing the shuttle or hook as these may be changedwithout materially altering the general character of the device orchanging its results. In making the machine for use pains should betaken in the construction of every part of it that it shall perform itswork as harmoniously and quietly as possible.

I do not claim the hook detached from the shuttle because I believe thishas been made before; nor do I claim to have conceived the idea ofmaking the rough or serrated foot-piece because serrated foot-pieces arenow in common use. But

vVhat I'claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The spring thread-carrier K, in combination with the stationary armL, and feeding mechanism operating together in the manner and for thepurpose specified.

2. The combination of the shuttle It, and hook 7, fastened together, ortheir equivalents, operating substantially in the manner and for thepurpose herein described.

3. The shuttle-carrier U, the case S, and the crosspiece P, whenoperating together substantially in the manner and for the purposeherein described.

AMOS W. SANGSTER. [1,. s.]

Witnesses JAMES SANGSTER, LEWIS J. CARPENTER, NATHAN TI-IAYER.

